bluegreensky
05-08-2009, 07:23 AM
hey all, i have recently been struggling with feelings of anger towards the way the media interprets bipolar disorder...i do ofcourse realize that i can't expect most people to be educated about this illness, but you would think that if they intend on including it in a television program or film that they would do some research in order to accurately portray the symptoms etc. BUT NO! the more crazy they can make it appear, the better their ratings will be 'coz it makes it exciting to watch! aaargh! anybody feel the same? there isn't much we can do about it though hey?..just have to accept it i suppose..?
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windimeria2000
05-08-2009, 02:48 PM
The media has a great deal of influence in our society. People turn on there TV or radio and see and hear the recent news. The media covers what ever story that they believe will interest the viewers more. I also agree that most media coverage about Bipolar is negative however, in recent years there has been an increase in advocates for this disorder and people are starting to understand that it can be treated. * removed * I agree that there is little education about bipolar disorder. However, furthering education is something one must choose for themselves. Some people just choose to stay in the dark about somethings and sometimes make a nuisance of themselves. Just be glad your not.
Best Wishes
Best Wishes
dreams in neon
05-08-2009, 03:39 PM
It's ironic that I come across this post because on another bipolar message board I read a message from someone in another country who said there is a company (who I do not want to name) advertising a certain piece of clothing and using the word "bipolar" to describe it. After I read the press release, I was appalled and couldn't believe a company could be so insensitive to those of us who have this disorder.
Several weeks ago I was watching a movie in which a character said "Don't go bipolar on me!" At first this comment made me chuckle, but the more I thought about it, the more it bothered me because it's bad enough that most people think bipolar disorder only involves bouts of anger even though we know this isn't true.
I've been in the mental health system for the past 18 years and even the so-called "professionals" have a great deal to learn about bipolar.
We're getting closer to reducing stigma, but still have a very long way to go.
Several weeks ago I was watching a movie in which a character said "Don't go bipolar on me!" At first this comment made me chuckle, but the more I thought about it, the more it bothered me because it's bad enough that most people think bipolar disorder only involves bouts of anger even though we know this isn't true.
I've been in the mental health system for the past 18 years and even the so-called "professionals" have a great deal to learn about bipolar.
We're getting closer to reducing stigma, but still have a very long way to go.
Bunnylover
05-08-2009, 05:40 PM
I think this is the second most stigmitized mental illness to have--schizophrenia being the worst. People seem to think all bipolar people are crazy nutcases. Part of what held up my diagnosis so long was that all the mental health professionals I've seen have thought I was too sane to be bipolar.
Unfortunately, given where I am careerwise, I don't feel safe "coming out" as bipolar, but some day when my circumstances change to be able to publically let people know that I am bipolar, so they can see that we're not scary insane people, but people struggling with a treatable illness.
When my husband told my in-laws (at my request), my normally very tolerant mother-in-law, usually very open about mental health problems, asked me a bunch of questions basically to see if I was ruining her son's life. I don't know how long it will be until our relationship recovers from that, it's hard to forget.
Sorry, just venting I guess, but this is a round about way of saying I agree with you.
Unfortunately, given where I am careerwise, I don't feel safe "coming out" as bipolar, but some day when my circumstances change to be able to publically let people know that I am bipolar, so they can see that we're not scary insane people, but people struggling with a treatable illness.
When my husband told my in-laws (at my request), my normally very tolerant mother-in-law, usually very open about mental health problems, asked me a bunch of questions basically to see if I was ruining her son's life. I don't know how long it will be until our relationship recovers from that, it's hard to forget.
Sorry, just venting I guess, but this is a round about way of saying I agree with you.
katlin09
05-08-2009, 08:54 PM
It's ironic that I come across this post because on another bipolar message board I read a message from someone in another country who said there is a company (who I do not want to name) advertising a certain piece of clothing and using the word "bipolar" to describe it. After I read the press release, I was appalled and couldn't believe a company could be so insensitive to those of us who have this disorder.
Several weeks ago I was watching a movie in which a character said "Don't go bipolar on me!" At first this comment made me chuckle, but the more I thought about it, the more it bothered me because it's bad enough that most people think bipolar disorder only involves bouts of anger even though we know this isn't true.
I've been in the mental health system for the past 18 years and even the so-called "professionals" have a great deal to learn about bipolar.
We're getting closer to reducing stigma, but still have a very long way to go.
Dreams,
That phrase has never made me chuckle, that's what me ex alwasy says to me when I start to get the least bit legitimitly upset about something. He does it to be purposefully hurtful and cruel.
kat
Several weeks ago I was watching a movie in which a character said "Don't go bipolar on me!" At first this comment made me chuckle, but the more I thought about it, the more it bothered me because it's bad enough that most people think bipolar disorder only involves bouts of anger even though we know this isn't true.
I've been in the mental health system for the past 18 years and even the so-called "professionals" have a great deal to learn about bipolar.
We're getting closer to reducing stigma, but still have a very long way to go.
Dreams,
That phrase has never made me chuckle, that's what me ex alwasy says to me when I start to get the least bit legitimitly upset about something. He does it to be purposefully hurtful and cruel.
kat
dreams in neon
05-08-2009, 08:56 PM
Dreams,
That phrase has never made me chuckle, that's what me ex alwasy says to me when I start to get the least bit legitimitly upset about something. He does it to be purposefully hurtful and cruel.
kat
In the movie, that comment was meant to be funny.
However, if someone said that to me, I'd start crying because I consider it to be a personal attack regarding something I (or any of us) can't help.
That phrase has never made me chuckle, that's what me ex alwasy says to me when I start to get the least bit legitimitly upset about something. He does it to be purposefully hurtful and cruel.
kat
In the movie, that comment was meant to be funny.
However, if someone said that to me, I'd start crying because I consider it to be a personal attack regarding something I (or any of us) can't help.
katlin09
05-08-2009, 08:59 PM
In the movie, that comment was meant to be funny.
However, if someone said that to me, I'd be ticked.
I'd get ticked, but it never mattered, he'd remeind me how much bigger and stronger he was, and I was just a mental case, so what was I gonna do. So most of the time I just had to swallow my anger or go to my room and stew in it, but god I hated those comments.
However, if someone said that to me, I'd be ticked.
I'd get ticked, but it never mattered, he'd remeind me how much bigger and stronger he was, and I was just a mental case, so what was I gonna do. So most of the time I just had to swallow my anger or go to my room and stew in it, but god I hated those comments.
dreams in neon
05-08-2009, 09:00 PM
I'd get ticked, but it never mattered, he'd remeind me how much bigger and stronger he was, and I was just a mental case, so what was I gonna do. So most of the time I just had to swallow my anger or go to my room and stew in it, but god I hated those comments.
Note that I edited my post.
Note that I edited my post.
dreams in neon
05-08-2009, 09:02 PM
Kat,
I know how you feel. It's no different than my father calling me every expletive you can think of.
Too bad people can't think before they open their mouth.
I know how you feel. It's no different than my father calling me every expletive you can think of.
Too bad people can't think before they open their mouth.
Elf_Ears
05-09-2009, 11:04 AM
I think Sally Field's potrayal of a bp person (on ER) may have done some harm to us, as far as what the general public thinks. People always see things in black and white, esp mental illness. It's not something they can "get" so they go to the lowest common denomiator in order to protect/prepare themselves.
What we need is a movie of a bipolar person who is doing well in spite of it. Are there any out there? Or maybe a high-functioning bipolar character on a tv series. Monk is kinda neat because, due to his OCD, he is an amazing detective. Yes, his problems are evident too, but the silver lining of his illness outshines them.
What we need is a movie of a bipolar person who is doing well in spite of it. Are there any out there? Or maybe a high-functioning bipolar character on a tv series. Monk is kinda neat because, due to his OCD, he is an amazing detective. Yes, his problems are evident too, but the silver lining of his illness outshines them.
bluegreensky
05-09-2009, 11:13 AM
I think Sally Field's potrayal of a bp person (on ER) may have done some harm to us, as far as what the general public thinks. People always see things in black and white, esp mental illness. It's not something they can "get" so they go to the lowest common denomiator in order to protect/prepare themselves.
What we need is a movie of a bipolar person who is doing well in spite of it. Are there any out there? Or maybe a high-functioning bipolar character on a tv series. Monk is kinda neat because, due to his OCD, he is an amazing detective. Yes, his problems are evident too, but the silver lining of his illness outshines them.
I totally agree! we need that movie :D
What we need is a movie of a bipolar person who is doing well in spite of it. Are there any out there? Or maybe a high-functioning bipolar character on a tv series. Monk is kinda neat because, due to his OCD, he is an amazing detective. Yes, his problems are evident too, but the silver lining of his illness outshines them.
I totally agree! we need that movie :D
dreams in neon
05-09-2009, 11:41 AM
An excellent movie about mental illness that I highly recommend is "A Beautiful Mind." It's based on the life of John Forbes Nash, a Nobel Laureate in Economics. It portrays his struggles with paranoid schizophrenia, delusions and hallucinations as well as the relationship between his wife and children. It is one of the few movies that accurately depict some of the challenges mental illness can place on a relationship.
Bunnylover
05-09-2009, 05:09 PM
I think Sally Field's potrayal of a bp person (on ER) may have done some harm to us, as far as what the general public thinks. People always see things in black and white, esp mental illness. It's not something they can "get" so they go to the lowest common denomiator in order to protect/prepare themselves.
I completely agree. I watched ER before diagnosis, and that sort of potrayl made me really reluctant to accept the diagnosis and subsequent treatment. I didn't want to be or be seen as one of those crazy people.
I completely agree. I watched ER before diagnosis, and that sort of potrayl made me really reluctant to accept the diagnosis and subsequent treatment. I didn't want to be or be seen as one of those crazy people.
seaturtle
05-09-2009, 11:37 PM
A couple of years ago, I was good friends with someone who didn't know I was bipolar. They went on a rant one day about those "head-cases, insane people who get violent, stay away from them, they're nuts."
I calmly told him "I am bipolar."
Long silence. He turned beet-red. He never contacted me after that.
Yes, they do see us as dangerous, crazy. But we have indeed come a long way. I belong to an organization of support groups that educates the public, and we are planning to do a show on the local public television station. I'd like to write something for the newspaper, too. We do have to educate.
We will get there, I think. After all, when I was growing up (in ancient time!), people wouldn't talk about cancer or diabetes. To have one of these was a cause for shame.
To an extent, I think this is true of many psychiatric disorders. I have had doctors almost sneer at me for anorexia and agoraphobia and refuse to treat me until I "got over it."
The media hasn't helped, either, with picturing people with MI dangerous, homeless, etc.
Wife-beating is so common in the community I live in that it's almost expected and accepted by some. But not bipolar.
Go figgur.
I calmly told him "I am bipolar."
Long silence. He turned beet-red. He never contacted me after that.
Yes, they do see us as dangerous, crazy. But we have indeed come a long way. I belong to an organization of support groups that educates the public, and we are planning to do a show on the local public television station. I'd like to write something for the newspaper, too. We do have to educate.
We will get there, I think. After all, when I was growing up (in ancient time!), people wouldn't talk about cancer or diabetes. To have one of these was a cause for shame.
To an extent, I think this is true of many psychiatric disorders. I have had doctors almost sneer at me for anorexia and agoraphobia and refuse to treat me until I "got over it."
The media hasn't helped, either, with picturing people with MI dangerous, homeless, etc.
Wife-beating is so common in the community I live in that it's almost expected and accepted by some. But not bipolar.
Go figgur.
dreams in neon
05-10-2009, 12:07 AM
A couple of years ago, I was good friends with someone who didn't know I was bipolar. They went on a rant one day about those "head-cases, insane people who get violent, stay away from them, they're nuts."
I calmly told him "I am bipolar."
Long silence. He turned beet-red. He never contacted me after that.
Yes, they do see us as dangerous, crazy. But we have indeed come a long way. I belong to an organization of support groups that educates the public, and we are planning to do a show on the local public television station. I'd like to write something for the newspaper, too. We do have to educate.
We will get there, I think. After all, when I was growing up (in ancient time!), people wouldn't talk about cancer or diabetes. To have one of these was a cause for shame.
To an extent, I think this is true of many psychiatric disorders. I have had doctors almost sneer at me for anorexia and agoraphobia and refuse to treat me until I "got over it."
The media hasn't helped, either, with picturing people with MI dangerous, homeless, etc.
Wife-beating is so common in the community I live in that it's almost expected and accepted by some. But not bipolar.
Go figgur.
I couldn't agree with you more Seaturtle.
I also think that the general public tends to accept depression (unipolar) more readily than they accept bipolar. At least when people see commercials on TV for Abilify, Cymbalta and other meds, it's familiar to them unlike bipolar which many people mistake as being indicative of having an explosive temper.
I calmly told him "I am bipolar."
Long silence. He turned beet-red. He never contacted me after that.
Yes, they do see us as dangerous, crazy. But we have indeed come a long way. I belong to an organization of support groups that educates the public, and we are planning to do a show on the local public television station. I'd like to write something for the newspaper, too. We do have to educate.
We will get there, I think. After all, when I was growing up (in ancient time!), people wouldn't talk about cancer or diabetes. To have one of these was a cause for shame.
To an extent, I think this is true of many psychiatric disorders. I have had doctors almost sneer at me for anorexia and agoraphobia and refuse to treat me until I "got over it."
The media hasn't helped, either, with picturing people with MI dangerous, homeless, etc.
Wife-beating is so common in the community I live in that it's almost expected and accepted by some. But not bipolar.
Go figgur.
I couldn't agree with you more Seaturtle.
I also think that the general public tends to accept depression (unipolar) more readily than they accept bipolar. At least when people see commercials on TV for Abilify, Cymbalta and other meds, it's familiar to them unlike bipolar which many people mistake as being indicative of having an explosive temper.
Llama
05-10-2009, 11:20 PM
Did anyone ever see the show six feet under? I loved that show. I watched it before I was diagnosed and found myself to be eerily similar to him in some ways. It had a bipolar character in it. He was portrayed as only a threat to himself, then it was found out that he had tried to make a bomb, he was violent towards his sister, then he was sort of stalking his sister's new boyfriend. All that bad stuff. But then he was hospitalized, and when he was out he had been doing really well for a while. And he had a good job, was on meds, stable, and had a good girlfriend. Then one night he met up with some old friends who said he just wasn't the same old fun and crazy guy. So he stopped taking his meds again and went manic. His girlfriend found out (obviously by his behavior) and broke up with him.
It's the same sad story that we all face with going off our meds (not the violent parts though).
It's the same sad story that we all face with going off our meds (not the violent parts though).
dreams in neon
05-11-2009, 01:52 AM
Did anyone ever see the show six feet under? I loved that show. I watched it before I was diagnosed and found myself to be eerily similar to him in some ways. It had a bipolar character in it. He was portrayed as only a threat to himself, then it was found out that he had tried to make a bomb, he was violent towards his sister, then he was sort of stalking his sister's new boyfriend. All that bad stuff. But then he was hospitalized, and when he was out he had been doing really well for a while. And he had a good job, was on meds, stable, and had a good girlfriend. Then one night he met up with some old friends who said he just wasn't the same old fun and crazy guy. So he stopped taking his meds again and went manic. His girlfriend found out (obviously by his behavior) and broke up with him.
It's the same sad story that we all face with going off our meds (not the violent parts though).
I've heard of that movie, but have never seen it. I rent DVDs from a popular service and think I will add this to my list.
It's the same sad story that we all face with going off our meds (not the violent parts though).
I've heard of that movie, but have never seen it. I rent DVDs from a popular service and think I will add this to my list.
Llama
05-11-2009, 02:03 AM
dreams you definitely should! IT's a great series. I own all the seasons on DVD.
dreams in neon
05-11-2009, 02:05 AM
dreams you definitely should! IT's a great series. I own all the seasons on DVD.
It comes in a series? I didn't know that. I'm familiar with the title, but always thought it was a movie. Awesome! Now I have something to look forward to watching! Thanks for bringing this to our attention.
It comes in a series? I didn't know that. I'm familiar with the title, but always thought it was a movie. Awesome! Now I have something to look forward to watching! Thanks for bringing this to our attention.